Card game

ABSTRACT

A game including cards and rules for playing a game for a plurality of players, the goal of which is to be the first player to discard all of the cards from a play deck. The invention provides multiple sets of cards, among which are trait-based cards and position-based cards. Trait-based cards reference players with respect to an assigned distinguishing trait, while position-based cards are position specific, referencing players with respect to their position around the playing area. The order of play is directed by the particular cards that are played, rather than according to a predetermined pattern, the object of the game being to be the first player to have discarded every card from their deck. The game may also employ additional card sets, the inclusion of which makes game play more complex, and may be based on a cultural phenomenon such as a popular book or movie.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/324,861 entitled “Card Game,” filed Sep. 25, 2001, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to card games. More specifically, the present invention relates to rules and apparatus for playing an outplay type card game for a plurality of players with a deck having multiple sets of cards.

[0003] Outplay type card games have been in use for many years and are well known in the art of gaming. In typical outplay type card games, each player has a deck of cards and a turn consists of attempting to play out one or more cards to the playing area to achieve some effect. Play ends when one or all of the players has played out all of his or her cards. In outplay card games, there typically exists an order of play revolving around the playing area in either a clockwise or counterclockwise manner or, alternatively, there exists no order of play, all players attempting to play simultaneously.

[0004] While many varying embodiments of outplay type card games exist, such as trick taking, matching and melding games, the players of such games having an order of play often have no time constraint by which to complete their turn once the conventional order of play reaches their position. As a result, traditional outplay games having assigned turns often lack an element of urgency in play that may provide a more intense and pleasing gaming experience. In contrast, those outplay games that lack an order of play, all players attempting to play simultaneously, often produce as much disorder as intensity, resulting in a limitation of the number of players who can constructively participate. Consequently, the development of a card game having a non-traditional order of play which also creates a sense of urgency in play would allow for an intense gaming experience by a plurality of players, thereby being beneficial to the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a game including cards and rules for playing a card game for a plurality of players. Specifically, the invention provides multiple sets of cards, among which are trait-based cards and position-based cards. Trait-based cards reference players with respect to an assigned distinguishing trait, while position-based cards reference players with respect to their position relative to the other players. The order of play is determined as indicated by each consecutively played card, rather than by a predetermined pattern. The advantages of the present invention will be understood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 depicts a play area showing a layout of players and contents of the card game.

[0007]FIG. 2 depicts the play area of FIG. 1 and the distribution of player cards, challenge cards, and play decks after dealing.

[0008]FIG. 3 depicts the order of play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] 1. Description of Players

[0010] One method of playing the present card game is depicted in FIGS. 1-3. A playing area 100 is set up so that a plurality of players 102 may spread out around playing area 100. The plurality of players 102 may include a player A 104, who assumes the role of a dealer, a player B 106, who sits to the left of the dealer and may become the first player, a player C 108, and a player D 110. A plurality of game cards 10 are stacked and dealt to the plurality of players 102 as described below.

[0011] 2. Description of Cards

[0012] Cards 10 may be differentiated by a unique, pre-assigned trait 12 that may consist of a distinguishing color 14, a distinguishing character 16, or a combination of both a distinguishing color and character 18. Color 14 is indicated in the drawings by the words “(Red),” “(Orange),” “(Yellow),” “(Green),” “(Blue),” and “(Purple).” These words typically would not be printed on the actual cards 10, and are for ease of understanding the present disclosure.

[0013] Distinguishing character 16 may be based on a popular cultural phenomenon, such as a book or movie, and may be indicated on the cards 10 by picture 22, name 24, or a combination of picture and name 26. For example, the characters and names shown in FIGS. 1-3 are based on the popular children's book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling.

[0014] Cards 10 typically include at least one set of player cards 28 that distinguish each player by a differentiation in the unique, pre-assigned trait 12. Cards 10 also typically include at least one set of challenge cards 30, which similarly depict the unique, pre-assigned trait 12 to correspond and refer the challenge cards 30 to the player cards 28. In some embodiments player cards 28 and challenge cards 30 may be identical. An alternative example is shown in FIG. 1 where the player cards 28 and challenge cards 30 differ only by the orientation of picture 22 relative to a long axis of each card.

[0015] Cards 10 also typically include at least one play order card set 32 which may contain trait-based cards 34 or position-based cards 36 or a combination of trait-based cards 34 and position-based cards 36. The trait-based cards 34 are distinguished by a unique, pre-assigned trait 12 that identifies each of the plurality of players 102 by matching the unique, pre-assigned trait 12 to that of each of the player cards 28. For example, trait-based card 34 a in FIG. 1 matches the distinguishing color 14 of player card 28 a. Play order card sets 32 are used to arbitrarily direct the order of play to a particular player without the order of play being predetermined. Instead, the play order is based on similarities in at least one of the unique, pre-assigned traits 12 between the player's 102 selected player card 28 and the trait-based card 34, or between the player's 102 position and the position-based card 36.

[0016] Generally, position-based cards 36 identify a direction 38 relative to the player holding a particular position-based card 36, as represented by an arrow. Position-based cards 36 also may identify a number of positions 40 relative to the player holding a particular position-based card 36, as represented by two characters in FIG. 1. The direction 38 may be depicted through symbols representing left and right, also shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, position-based card 36 a indicates that play should progress one player to the left. Similarly, position-based card 36 b indicates that play should progress two players to the left, position-based card 36 c indicates that play should progress one player to the right, and position-based card 36 d indicates that play should progress two players to the right.

[0018] Cards 10 also may optionally include at least one set of action cards 42 that increase the complexity of the game. A particular and distinct action may be assigned to each set of the action cards 42, indicating the required performance of a particular action by one or all of the plurality of players 102. For example, the action card 42 a shown in FIG. 1 depicts a biting gnome and, when played, may require one or all of the players 102 to place their respective player cards 28 on top of the last played card. An additional embodiment of the action cards 42 b is shown in FIG. 1 and depicts a gnome nest, which may require one or all of the players 102 to hold their player cards 28 over their heads.

[0019] In one embodiment, the game may include as many as six sets of cards 10 including player cards 28, challenge cards 30, play order card sets 32 (including trait-based cards 34, position-based cards 36, or combination of trait-based cards 34 and position-based cards 36), and action cards 42. Additional players may be accommodated by the simultaneous use of multiple sets of cards.

[0020] 3. Description of Play Method

[0021] Each of the plurality of players 102 selects a unique, pre-assigned trait 12, shown on the player cards 28. The player cards 28 are placed face up in front of the respective players 102 as shown in FIG. 2. Typically, players 102 then select, and place face up, challenge cards 30 corresponding to at least one of their opposing players, so that all players 102 are represented by challenge cards 30. For example, player A 104 would select challenge cards 30 that matched the particular player card 28 selected by each of player B 106, player C 108, and player D 110 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0022] Play order card sets 32, action cards 42, or a combination of both play order card sets 32 and action cards 42, are typically shuffled and dealt by dealer 104. Each player then stacks his or her play deck 44 so that play deck 46 corresponds to player A 104, play deck 48 corresponds to player B 106, play deck 50 corresponds to player C 108, and play deck 52 corresponds to player D 110, as shown in FIG. 2. The goal of the game is to be the first of the players 102 to discard their entire play deck 44 into the playing area 100.

[0023] Player B 106, seated to the left of the dealer 104, is typically the first to play. The top card 54 of player B 106 is placed face up on the playing area 100, as represented by a card 56 in FIG. 3. Each member of the play order card set 32 indicates a particular player 102 by whose turn play should progress subsequent to the placement of that card upon the playing area 100, instead of by a predetermined order. The type of played card 56 determines who will be the next of the players 102 to place the top card 54 from their own play deck 44 onto the playing area 100.

[0024] For example, if the played card 56 is that depicted in position-based card 36 a, then play would progress to player C 108 who is one position to the left, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3. Player C 108 would then place his or her top card 54 face up onto playing area 100, before the opponents could play a challenge card 30, and play would continue to the next of the players 102 indicated by the type of card. If player C's 108 played card is an action card 42, then either one or all of the players 102 would be required to perform a particular action.

[0025] If all of players 102 are required to perform an action, then the player who is last to perform, or fails to perform, is assessed a predetermined penalty, such as requiring that all of the played cards be added to that player's play deck 44. For example, if player D 110 was the last to perform, then all played cards would be added to play deck 52.

[0026] If any of the players 102 plays out of turn or fails to quickly respond to the play order determined by the played card, then any other of the players 102 may challenge the erring or non-responding player by throwing the corresponding challenge card 30 onto the playing area 100. If the correct challenge card 30 was played before the player 102 who was in error or too slow to respond, then the player who was erring or slow is penalized, such as by adding all played cards 60 to his or her own play deck 44. However, if any of the players challenges at the wrong time or in reference to the wrong player, then the predetermined penalty is assessed to the erring challenger.

[0027] For example, if player A 104 was slow to respond, then player B 106 could throw a challenge card 30 matching the player card 28 of player A 104 onto playing area 100 before player A 104 placed his or her top card 54 onto playing area 100. Player A 104 would then be penalized by adding all played cards to play deck 46. But if player B 106 had played the wrong challenge card 30 then player B 106 would be penalized.

[0028] Once a penalty has been assessed, players 102 may rotate at least one of their remaining challenge cards 30.

[0029] The game continues until one of the players 102 plays all cards from his or her play deck 44, thereby winning the game.

[0030] Although the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the invention includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. The following claims define certain combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties that are regarded as novel and nonobvious. Other combinations and subcombinations may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to any earlier claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A card game for a plurality of players, comprising a plurality of game cards, wherein are included multiple sets of game cards, and where at least one of the multiple sets of game cards comprises play order card sets arbitrarily directing a particular player to play without respect to a predetermined order of play.
 2. A card game in accordance with claim 1, where at least one of the play order card sets comprises trait-based cards arbitrarily directing a particular player to play with respect to a pre-assigned trait of that player, and without respect to a predetermined order of play.
 3. A card game in accordance with claim 1, where at least one of the play order card sets comprises position-based cards arbitrarily directing a particular player to play with respect to the position of that player relative to that of the previous player, and without respect to a predetermined order of play.
 4. A card game in accordance with claim 1, where at least one of the multiple sets of game cards further comprises player cards each depicting a unique, pre-assigned trait that identifies each of the plurality of players.
 5. A card game in accordance with claim 4, where the unique, pre-assigned trait comprises a distinguishing color, character, or combination of both a distinguishing color and character, and where characters may be based on a popular cultural phenomenon such as a book or a movie and may be indicated on the cards by picture, name, or combination of both picture and name.
 6. A card game in accordance with claim 1, where at least one of the multiple sets of game cards further comprises challenge cards that correspond and refer to the player cards each depicting a unique, pre-assigned trait identified with each of the players.
 7. A card game in accordance with claim 1, where at least one of the multiple sets of game cards further comprises action cards indicating the required performance of a particular action by one or all of the plurality of players.
 8. A card game in accordance with claim 1, where more than one of the multiple sets of game cards further comprises action cards indicating the required performance of a particular action by one or all of the plurality of players, each action indicated by a set of action cards being distinct from that of every other set.
 9. A card game for a plurality of players, comprising a plurality of game cards, the plurality of game cards comprising at least one play order card set, where the play order card set contains trait-based cards, or position-based cards, or a combination of both trait-based cards and position-based cards.
 10. The card game of claim 9, where each member of the play order card set indicates a particular player by whose turn play should progress subsequent to the placement of the trait-based card or the position-based card upon the playing area, indication of a particular player being assigned according to a characteristic difference between the trait-based cards in color, character, or combination of color and character, where characters may be based on a popular cultural phenomenon such as a book or a movie and may be differentiated by picture, name, or combination of picture and name; or indication of a particular player being assigned according to his or her direction and number of positions from the player of each respective said position-based card.
 11. The card game of claim 9, where the plurality of game cards further comprises at least one set of player cards, and where each of the player cards distinguishes a unique player from the other(s) according to an assigned difference in color, character, or combination of color and character, and where characters may be based on a popular cultural phenomenon such as a book or a movie and may be differentiated by picture, name, or combination of picture and name.
 12. The card game of claim 9, where the plurality of game cards further comprises at least one set of challenge cards, and where the challenge cards provide reference to a particular player according to an assigned difference in color, character, or combination of color and character, and where characters may be based on a popular cultural phenomenon such as a book or a movie and may be differentiated by picture, name, or combination of picture and name.
 13. The card game of claim 9, where the plurality of game cards further comprises at least one set of action cards, where each of the action cards designates that one or all of the plurality of players must perform a particular action, and where each member of the plurality of players who fails to perform the designated action, or the member who, among the plurality of members, is the last to perform the designated action, is assessed a predetermined penalty.
 14. The card game of claim 13, where the predetermined penalty consists of having cards from the play area added to the play deck of a penalized player.
 15. The card game of claim 13, where additional players are accommodated by the simultaneous use of multiple sets of the plurality of game cards.
 16. A card game for a plurality of players, comprising a plurality of game cards, the plurality of game cards comprising at least one set of: player cards; challenge cards; and play order cards, where the player cards and the challenge cards refer to unique, pre-assigned traits, and where the play order cards are trait-based cards, or position-based cards, or a combination of both.
 17. The card game of claim 16, where: each of the player cards distinguishes a unique player from the other(s) according to an assigned difference in color, character, or combination of color and character, and where characters may be based on a popular cultural phenomenon such as a book or a movie and may be differentiated by picture, name, or combination of picture and name; each of the challenge cards provides reference to a particular player, the reference of each particular player corresponding with at least one of the various differentiable characteristics of the player card assigned to that player; and each of the play order cards indicates a particular player by whose turn play should progress subsequent to the placement of the play order card upon the playing area, the indication of each particular player corresponding with at least one of the various differentiable characteristics of the player card assigned to that player or corresponding to his or her direction and number of positions from the player of the respective play order card.
 18. The card game of claim 16, where the plurality of game cards further comprises at least one set of action cards, where each of the action cards designates that one or all of the plurality of players must perform a particular action, and where each member of the plurality of players who fails to perform the designated action, or the member who, among the plurality of members, is the last to perform the designated action, is assessed a predetermined penalty.
 19. The card game of claim 18, where the predetermined penalty consists of having cards from the play area added to the play deck of a penalized player.
 20. The card game of claim 18, where additional players are accommodated by the simultaneous use of multiple sets of the plurality of game cards.
 21. A method of playing a card game for a plurality of players, comprising the steps of: a) a dealer randomizing and dealing a plurality of game cards face down to each of the players; b) a first player playing the top card of their deck face up upon the playing area; c) the order of subsequent play being determined as indicated by each consecutively played card, rather than by a predetermined order. d) the first person to have played all of the cards in their deck upon the playing area being the winner.
 22. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 21, where, in step (c), the order of play may be determined by cards indicating particular players with respect to a distinguishing pre-assigned trait or with respect to a position relative to the previous player.
 23. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 22, where distinguishing pre-assigned traits consist of players' identification with characters, and where the characters are based on a popular cultural phenomenon such as a book or a movie and may be differentiated by picture, name, or combination of picture and name.
 24. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 22, further comprising, subsequent to step (c), the step of, if an erring player plays out of turn or plays too slowly, another player being able to challenge the erring player, resulting in the assessment of a predetermined penalty to the erring player.
 25. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 24, where the predetermined penalty comprises adding cards from the playing area to the hand of the erring player.
 26. A method of playing a card game for a plurality of players, comprising the steps of: a) each player selecting or being given a player card that distinguishes him or her self from the other player(s) according to an assigned difference in color, character, or combination of color and character depicted on the player card; b) each player being provided with at least one challenge card providing reference to a said player card by corresponding to at least one of the various differentiable characteristics of the respective player card. c) each player placing his or her respective said player card and said challenge card face up in front of his or her playing position; d) a dealer randomizing and dealing the plurality of game cards face down to each of the players, the plurality of game cards comprising trait-based cards or position-based cards, or a combination of both; e) each player stacking his or her plurality of game cards face down to form his or her play deck; f) a first player placing the top card from his or her play deck upon the playing area; g) if the played card is a said trait-based card, a player being indicated to subsequently place his or her current top card upon the playing area by the correspondence of the played card with at least one of the various differentiable characteristics of the player card assigned to the indicated player; h) if the played card is a said position-based card, a player being indicated to subsequently place his or her current top card upon the playing area corresponding to his or her direction and number of positions, as depicted on the played card, from the player of the played card; i) if an indicated player fails to place his or her current top card upon the playing area before any other player places a challenge card upon the playing area corresponding to the respective player card of the indicated player, the indicated player consequently being assessed a predetermined penalty; j) if an erring player incorrectly places his or her top card upon the playing area while not having been indicated by the previously played card, any other player having the opportunity to place the challenge card, corresponding to the respective player card of the erring player, upon the playing area, the erring player consequently being assessed a predetermined penalty; k) if the challenge card is played in error, either at the wrong time or in reference to the wrong player, the player of the challenge card being assessed a predetermined penalty; l) if an indicated player plays his or her top card upon the playing area before any of the challenge cards are played, a subsequent player being indicated by the trait-based card or the position-based card to place, in turn, his or her current top card upon the playing area; m) the progress of play continuing in like manner until all of the cards from the play deck of any player have been placed upon the playing area; and n) the player who first plays all of the cards from his or her play deck upon the playing area being the winner of the hand.
 27. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 26, where the at least one challenge card with which each player is provided in step (b) provides reference to him or her self by corresponding to at least one of the various differentiable characteristics of his or her own assigned player card.
 28. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 27, further comprising the step, subsequent to step (k), of the at least one challenge card being rotated among the plurality of players every time a predetermined penalty is assessed.
 29. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 26, where the at least one challenge card with which each player is provided in step (b) comprises challenge cards corresponding to the respective player cards possessed by each of his or her opponents.
 30. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 26, where the plurality of game cards of step (d) further comprise action cards, each of the action cards designating that one or all of the plurality of players must perform a particular action, further comprising the step, subsequent to step (f), of, if the played card is an action card, one or all of the players being required to perform a particular action designated by the action card, each member of the plurality of players who fails to perform the designated action, or the member who, among the plurality of members, is the last to perform the designated action, being assessed a predetermined penalty.
 31. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 30, where a predetermined penalty consists of having cards from the play area added to the play deck of a penalized player.
 32. A method of playing a card game in accordance with claim 26, where a predetermined penalty consists of having cards from the play area added to the play deck of a penalized player. 